Health Fair welcomes local Iraqi children

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Andria Allmond

[SandRat]

Senior Airman Kevin Andrews, a fire fighter with the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, helps an Iraqi child put on a fire suit outside the Oasis Dining Facility during a health fair here, Aug. 22. Forty-one Iraqi children were in attendance for the health fair. Photo by Senior Airman Chris Hubenthal, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.

JOINT BASE BALAD — U.S. Airmen and Soldiers hosted a Department of State Provincial Reconstruction Team-initiated Health Fair for local Iraqi children at the Oasis Dining Facility here, Aug. 22.

More than 40 children from the surrounding Salah ad Din province interacted with service members while learning about basic first aid, the role of emergency medical professionals and nutrition and hygiene.

The Health Fair marked the first time local kids were brought here for a medical outreach program.

"The event served the purpose of educating the children in the hopes they will disseminate the information to their families," said 1st Lt. Emanuel Pierre, Task Force 421, Multi-functional Medical Battalion civil military operations officer. "We also see this as an opportunity to cultivate good sentiment between the Iraqi people and Coalition forces."

Maj. David Carnahan, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group chief of medical staff, said his crew is working hand-in-hand with the local community to establish and maintain working relationships with their Iraqi counterparts.

"In the past, our doctors would work alongside Iraqi doctors in treating injured host nationals [at the Air Force Theater Hospital here]," the major said. "As the violence decreases in the area, we don't have that kind of working relationship anymore. In order to maintain the rapport we've built, we need to come together in non-hostility related events such as this. We are trying to support the Iraqi healthcare system by not undermining it, but helping where we can."

The goal was to teach useful health skills, but the event organizers also built in time for the children to have fun. When the kids first arrived at the dining facility, they got to check out static displays of medical emergency vehicles and some even tried on firefighters' gear. Then, after the briefings and lunch, they spent the afternoon enjoying sporting events and games at the west side gym.

The six- to 14-year-old participants weren't the only ones having a good time at the event.

"We love being with the kids and having them here on our base," said Sgt. Maj. Kellyanne Oneil, Task Force 1st Medical Command senior clinical sergeant major. "You could see everyone smiling and having a great time. It takes [the military members] away from the madness for a little while. Besides having fun, we hope the information and instruction we are exposing them to will ultimately make them safer."

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